Towel winding machine



E. B. BAHNSEN TOWEL WINDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

E/PW/N B. BAHNSE V g AT ORNEYS Dec. 7, 1965 E. B. BAHNSEN 3,222,006

TOWEL WINDING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 26\ 204 ll J INVENTOR.

ERW/N B. B/JHNSE'N Deco 1965 E. B. BAHNSEN 3,

TOWEL WINDING MACHINE Filed May '7, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

'RW/N B. BAHNSEN A TTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1965 E. B. BAHNSEN 3,222,006

TOWEL WINDING MACHINE Filed May 7, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ERW/N B. BAHNSEN BY 5 M ,W

Dec. 7, 1965 BAHNSEN 3,222,006

TOWEL WINDING MACHINE Filed May '7, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

ER WIN 5. BAHNSE N ATTORNEYS Dec. 7, 1965 B s 3,222,006

TOWEL WINDING MACHINE Filed May '7, 1963 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 mid/74 n a I & Q

O \o a INVENTOR. W a g; ERW/N 5. BAHA/SE/V fiTTORA/EYS United States Patent 3,222,006 TOWEL WINDING MACE Erwin B. Bahnsen, Hinsdale, 11]., assignor to Sterner American Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah, a corporation of Nevada Filed May 7, 1963, Ser. No. 278,539 11 Claims. (Cl. 242-671) This invention relates too a machine for winding continuous toweling, and particularly, to a power-driven production machine which winds continuous toweling in rolls for use in towel cabinets and the like.

Continuous cloth toweling in roll form is commonly housed in cabinets and dispensed therefrom to users until completely used. Soiled toweling is removed from the cabinets, and toweling from a number of locations is collected, washed and dried, and may be ironed, in large quantities. The toweling is wound in rolls after drying or ironing, and the rolls subsequently are returned to the cabinets and used again. The magnitude of operation is such that winding machines are used to wind the toweling rapidly and semi-automatically.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved towel winding machine which overcomes certain disadvantages and provides advantages over the prior machines.

Another object is to provide a towel winding machine which reduces and simplifies work motion, to increase the speed and efiiciency of operation.

A particular object is to provide a machine having adjustable side loading towel breakers, which eliminate threading steps, provide for easy, rapid and safe loading, and provide accurate and reliable operation.

Another particular object is to provide a machine having an improved mandrel on which the toweling is wound, the mandrel being constructed and arranged for ease of loading and unloading.

A further particular object is to provide a machine having apparatus for stripping a roll of toweling from the mandrel, thus rendering it unnecessary to remove the mandrel and handle the roll.

An additional object is to provide guide structure in a towel winding machine, serving to maintain straight edges and wind the toweling evenly.

Another object is to provide an electrically operated towel winding machine having automatic and manual controls for safe and efficient operation.

A further object i to provide a machine having a minimum number of parts subject to wear, requiring no critical alignment, and eliminating such structure as clutches, brakes, tension rolls and winding rolls, while providing fast, accurate, and tight winding with minimum friction and wear on the toweling.

Another object is to provide a compact, portable towel winding machine which may be mounted in any convenient location, on a wall, post, column, or stand, and requires no alignment after mounting.

These and other objects, advantages, and functions of the invention will be apparent on reference to the specification and to the attached drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein like parts are identified by like reference symbols in each of the views, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of the new towel winding machine, illustrating the machine as mounted on a stand and in operation;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the machine, with a part broken away, showing the towel breakers thereof with their free ends apart for loading the machine;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the machine, with parts removed and a part broken away, looking up at the machine as indicated by lines 3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged front side elevational view of the machine, with parts removed, showing two positions of the stripper thereof, in full and phantom lines, respectively;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the machine, with parts removed and other parts broken away, showing alternate positions of the towel breakers, in full and phantom lines, respectively;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the machine, with parts removed;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6, illustrating latch means on the towel breakers;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 88 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram for the machine.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly, FIGS. 1 and 2, a towel winding machine 10 according to the invention is illustrated as portably mounted on an upright stand 12. The machine includes a support 14 in the form of a rectangular tube which also functions as a housing for part of the structure. A towel Winding mandrel or spindle 16 is rotatably mounted on the support. A twospeed electrical drive motor 18 is mounted on the support and drivingly connected to the mandrel. Towel tensioning apparatus 20 is mounted on the support, and includes a fixed towel breaker or breaker assembly 22 and a movable towel breaker or breaker assembly 24. A stripper assembly 26 and a roll follower 28 are also mounted on the support.

Continuous cloth toweling 30 is received from the dryers or ironers in folded condition in a towel box 32 or other receptacle. A free end of the toweling is inserted between the breakers 22 and 24, and wrapped on the mandrel 16. With the motor 18 in operation, the mandrel rotates and winds the toweling in a roll 34 thereon, While the breakers guide and tension the toweling to produce a smooth, even and tight roll. As the size of the roll increases, the follower 28 operates to reduce the rotational speed of the motor and thus of the mandrel, so that the rate of travel of the toweling from the box to the mandrel does not become excessive. When the toweling is completely wound, the stripper assembly 26 is operated to strip or eject the roll from the mandrel. The roll may be ejected onto a chute or other conveyor apparatus, not shown, or it may be transferred to another location manually.

As seen in FIG. 5, the support 14 ha parallel front and back walls 36 and 38, respectively, and parallel outer and inner side walls 40 and 42, respectively. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, a mounting plate 44 is secured at the bottom of the support to the front, back, and inner side walls, as by welding, and an internally threaded coupling 46 is secured in a corresponding opening therein. The stand 12 includes a base plate 48 and an upright threaded pipe or tube 50 thereon. The upper end of the pipe is received in threaded engagement in the coupling 46, for mounting the winding machine 10 on the stand with the support 14 extending vertically. Alternatively, the support may be mounted on a wall, post, or the like. The back wall 38 is provided with a hole 52 adjacent its upper end, and a pair of slots 54 extending from its lower edge, for receiving bolts or other fastening means secured to such wall or post. In this manner, the machine may be mounted in any convenient location and moved about from place to place as desired.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the mandrel 16 includes a circular shaft 56 and an integral coaxial winding arm 58 of tapering square cross section. The shaft extends through the support side walls 40 and 42 and is journalled in bearings and 62 on the respective external surfaces thereof. The mandrel is mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, which extends horizontally when mounted as illustrated. The winding arm 58 extends horizontally outwardly from its supported inner end 64 to a free outer end 66. The arm tapers from the inner end to the outer end, e.g., from inch square to inch square.

The motor 18 is mounted on the external surface of the inner side wall 42, below the mandrel 16. A drive shaft 68 of the motor extends into the support, and a two-groove pulley 70 is secured thereon. A larger diameter twogroove pulley 72 is secured on the mandrel shaft 56 within the support. The motor and mandrel pulleys are coupled by a pair of -V-belts 74, for driving the mandrel by the motor. In the illustrative preferred embodiment, a twospeed motor is employed, for rotating the mandrel at one of two different speeds, depending on the diameter of the roll 34 of toweling thereon.

Referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 8, the roll follower 28 is in the form of a bent rod, and includes a shaft 76 and a follower arm 78 extending perpendicularly thereto. The shaft extends through aligned openings 80 and 82 in the respective side walls 40 and 42 of the support, and the shaft is rotatable therein about a horizontal axis. Two retaining collars 81 and 83 are adjustably fixed to the shaft within the support, as by set screws, adjacent to the side walls. The shaft extends outwardly from the sup port to the follower arm 78, which extends beneath the mandrel winding arm 58 in spaced relation thereto. The collars are arranged on the shaft to set the follower arm at a desired position along the winding arm, and the position may be adjusted.

A bracket 84 is fixed to one collar 81, and a normally open speed selector micro switch 86 is secured to the bracket. The switch includes a resilient trip lever 88 which rollably engages the internal surface of the back wall 38 for actuating the switch. A coil spring 90 is secured to the switch and to the back wall 38. The spring exerts rotational force on the shaft 76, for biasing the follower arm 78 towards the mandrel, into the position illustrated in the several views, and depressing the switch lever to close the switch. The follower arm remains in this position for a period of time while the roll of toweling on the mandrel increases in diameter. During this period, the motor 18 and the mandrel 16 operate at fast speed. As the roll increases in size, it contacts the follower arm 78 while rotating, and depresses the arm to thereby rotate the shaft 76 against the spring tension. When the roll reaches a predetermined size, e.g., about one-half of its final diameter, the shaft is rotated sufficiently so that the switch lever 88, moving on the wall 38, raises and opens the speed selector switch, causing the motor and the mandrel to operate at low speed until winding is complete. The setting of the follower arm may be adjusted by loosening the collar 81 and turning the shaft therein.

Referring to FIGS. 2-7, the fixed breaker 22 of the tensioning apparatus 20. includes a sinuous or corrugated breaker plate 92, and the movable breaker 24 includes a sinuous breaker plate 94 having a reinforcing member 95 on an outer side. The plates preferably have the same contour'or profile, and the corrugations are equidistantly spaced. The fixed breaker plate 92 includes a supported end 96 and a free end 98 (see FIG. 2). The supported end is secured to the front wall 36, as by welding, and the breaker plate extends horizontally outwardly therefrom to its free end. The breaker plate is substantially parallel to the mandrel arm 58, and is disposed below and forwardly thereof.

The movable breaker plate 94 includes an end 100 supported adjacent to the fixed plate supported end 96, and a free end 102. The supported end is fixedly secured to a hinge rod 104 (FIG. 6) having pivot pins 106 of reduced diameter extending from opposite ends thereof. The pins are journalled for rotation in respective upper and lower hinge blocks 108 and 110 secured on the external surface of the outer side wall 40. The movable breaker plate extends horizontally outwardly from its supported end 100 to its free end 102, adjacent to and behind the fixed plate. The breaker 24 is thereby hingedly movable about a vertical axis, for moving the free end 102 of its plate to and from the free end 98 of the fixed plate 92, to bring the free ends of the breakers together or move them apart.

The breaker plates, 92 and 94 are mounted so that they are turned oppositely to each other, and they are assembled in parallel spaced partly nesting relation in one position thereof, as seen in FIG. 6. The ridges of each plate enter the troughs of the other plate for a distance equal to a minor fraction of the depth of the corrugations. This condition obtains when the tensioning apparatus 20 is in its operative closed position with the breaker ends brought together. The breaker plates then define a tortuous path for movement of toweling between them. The toweling enters at the bottom of the plates and exits at the top, forwardly of the mandrel arm 58.

As seen in FIGS. 6 and 8, the hinge blocks 108 and 110 are mounted on the support 14 by means of screws 112 and 114, which pass through horizontally extending elongated slots 116 and 118, respectively, in the outer side wall 40. The hinge blocks are secured by the screws to respective mounting bars 120 and 122 on the inner side of the wall and extending over the .slots. The hinge blocks are horizontally adjustably mounted in this manner, for shifting the hinge rod 104 and the movable breaker plate 94 to or from the fixed plate 92. Such adjustment regulates the tension imparted to the toweling passing between the breakers, to suit the particular needs.

As seen most clearly in FIGS. 2-4, the opposite ends of the top and bottom corrugations of the movable breaker plate 94 are provided with projecting triangular towel edge guide bosses or guides 124, 126, 128, and 130, secured in place by welding or other suitable means. The upper bosses 124 and 126 extend over the top corrugation of the fixed breaker plate 92, and the lower bosses 128 and 130 extend into the lowermost rearwardly facing trough of the fixed breaker plate (see FIG. 6). The guide bosses serve to maintain the alignment of the edges of the toweling as it passes between the breakers. An arcuate guide bar 132 is fixedly secured on the bottom of the fixed breaker plate 92, and it includes an inwardly convex edge 134 protruding into the path of towel movement beneath the movable breaker plate 94 (see FIG. 5). The guide bar and the convex edge thereof are centrally mounted with respect to the edges of the toweling passing between the breaker plates, for increasing the tension on the center of the toweling.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 5, a spring holder 136 is mounted on the support front wall 36 adjacent to the upper guide boss 124 thereat. A coil compression breaker spring 138 is mounted on the holder and engages the boss, for biasing the movable breaker 24 to the open position illustrated in phantom lines, thereby separating the free ends of the breakers. With the free ends separated, as also seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, toweling is inserted between the breaker plates from such ends in loading the machine preparatory to operation. A handle 140 is fixedly secured to the movable breaker plate 94, for bringing the movable plate towards the fixed plate 92 and closing the tensioning apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 5-7, releasable latch means are provided for holding the free ends of the breakers 22 and 24, together. A two-hole mounting bracket 142 is fixedly secured to the movable breaker plate 9.4, in one of the troughs thereof. A slotted latch plate 144 is horizontally adjusta'bly secured to the bracket by means of a mounting screw 146 extending through the slot 147 thereof into a selected one of the threaded holes 148 in the bracket. A set screw 150 extends through the latch plate into the slot 147, and it contacts the mounting screw 146 for adjusting the plate and maintaining it in position. A latch pin 152 is mounted on the latch plate and extends through the slot.

A latch pivot plate 154 having a slot 156 therein is secured to one of the corrugations of the fixed breaker plate 92, opposite to the latch plate 144. A latch 158 extends through the slot and is pivotally mounted therein by means of a pivot pin 160 on the pivot plate. The inner end of the latch is accommodated by a notch 161 in the corrugation. Th latch end is provided with a hook 162 arranged to engage the latch pin 152 and secure the free ends 98 and 102 of the respective breaker plates together. A latch spring 164 is anchored in the pivot plate 154 and secured thereon by a screw 166. The spring is of generally U-shape, and overlies and bears on the outer surface of the latch to bias the hook into its closed position on the latch pin. The latch is released by operating a forwardly projecting handle 167 thereof, to separate the hook 162 from the latch pin 152. The movable breaker 24 thereupon is hingedly moved apart from the fixed breaker 22 under the bias of the breaker spring 138. When it is desired to adjust the relative spacing of the breakers, the positions of the hinge blocks 108 and 110 are adjusted, as previously described, and the position of the latch plate 144 is adjusted correspondingly, so as to maintain the breaker plates 92 and 94 parallel to each other.

Referring to FIG. 3, a stop pin 168 is secured to one of the corrugations in the movable breaker plate 94 at its supported end 100, and the pin project towards the support outer side wall 40. The pin limits the movement of the breaker plate by abutting on the wall when the plate is swung to the open position by the breaker spring 138. A lug 170 is mounted on the movable breaker plate on its uppermost rear edge at the supported end 100 (see also FIG. 6). The lug is arranged to contact a normally closed start-stop micro switch 172 mounted on the side wall 40, to open the switch, when the movable breaker plate swings back to the open position. The switch thereupon opens the electrical circuit to the motor 18, so that the motor and the mandrel 16 stop. When the movable breaker plate is returned to its closed position, the lug disengagesfrom the switch. The switch then closes the circuit to the motor, so that it operates to drive the mandrel. As seen in FIG. 4, a normally closed inching switch 174 is mounted on the support inner side wall 42. The switch is connected in the circuit to the motor, and it may be manually operated to stop and start the motor and the mandrel during operation. The inching switch is operated when it is desired to operate the motor and the mandrel intermittently. The toweling may be wound in this manner when it is badly twisted or creased. The switch also may be used to stop the motor for any other reason.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 8, a motor start or power relay 176 and a two-speed relay 178 are housed in the lower end of the support 14, being mounted on the outer wall 40. A partition 180 separates the relays and associated wiring, not shown, from the drive apparatus housed in the upper end of the support. An electrical power cable 180 extends into the lower end of the support and is connected to the electrical equipment therein. The outer end of the cable may be provided with a conventional connector, not shown, for connection to a convenient source of electrical power. The motor is energized by a second electrical cable 182, which extends from within the support to the motor mounted on the outer surface thereof.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of the circuit for operating the motor 18, indicated schematically. The motor is a two-speed, constant torque, 220 volt, 3-phase, 6O cycle motor, such as a Robbins & Myers motor of that description, rated at l horsepower and 1800 rpm. at high speed, and /2 horsepower and 900 r.p.m. at low speed. Six leads 184-189 are electrically connected to the motor. Three leads L L and L are connected to a source of open position of the movable breaker 24. The normally closed inching switch 174 is closed. The double pole single throw motor start relay 17-6 is de-energized and its contacts are open so that the motor is de-energized. The normally open speed selector switch 86 is closed, corresponding to the starting position of the roll follower arm 78 nearer the mandrel 16 (as in FIG. 6). The two-speed relay 178, which includes three double throw poles and two single throw poles, is de-energized.

When the start-stop switch 172 is closed, by closing the movable breaker 24, the contacts in the motor start relay 176 are closed to energize the motor. The two-speed relay 178 is energized. The leads 184, 186 and 188 to the motor are connected to the power source through the leads L L and L and the leads 185, 187, and 189 are connected together, for high speed operation of the motor. Should the movable breaker 24 be opened, it opens the start-stop switch 172 and de-energizes the motor. The motor may be de-energized at any time with the breakers closed by operating the inching switch 174, to open the switch.

As the roll 34 on the mandrel increases in diameter, as seen in FIG. 1, the follower 28 is turned thereby and ultimately causes the speed selector switch 86 to open. The two-speed relay 178 is thereby de-energized, and it assumes its low speed condition. At this time, the leads 185, 187, and 189 to the motor are connected to the leads L L and L to the power source. The circuit remains in this condition until the start-stop switch 172 is opened, ordinarily when winding is complete. After removing the roll of toweling from the mandrel, the circuit returns to the condition illustrated, and the operation is repeated.

The fully wound roll 34 of toweling is removed from the mandrel 16 by operation of the stripper assembly 26. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, the stripper assembly includes a double-acting pneumatic stripper 190, a four-way air valve 192, air tubes or conduits 194 and 196 connecting the valve with opposite ends of the stripper, and a. flow controller 198 which may be connected to a source of compressed air, not shown. The stripper is mounted on top of the support 14, with one end secured thereto by means of a mounting plate 200 on the stripper end and screws 202 which secure the plate on the internal surface of the outer side wall 40. The valve 192 is mounted on the external surface of the front wall 36, by means of screws 204. The flow controller 198 is mounted on the valve.

The stripper includes a cylinder 206 and a doubleacting piston 208 reciprocatable therein, between the Positions illustrated in full and phantom lines in FIG. 4. An ejection disk 210 is secured to the outer end of the piston for movement therewith. An operating lever 212 is mounted on the valve 192. When not in operation, the stripper is maintained in the position illustrated in the several views by air pressure acting to retract the piston 208. Manual operation of the lever 212 operates the valve 192 to direct the air flow to extend the piston and the disk 210, as illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 4. The disk is arranged to engage the inner end of the roll '34 of toweling and push the roll towards the free end 66 of the mandrel. The piston is retracted on releasing the operating lever.

In operation, folded toweling 30 in the towel box 32 is placed beneath the winding machine 10. The machine is loaded with the breakers 22 and 24 moved apart, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The upper free end of the toweling is grasped and moved between the breaker plates 92 and 94 from their respective free ends 98 and 102. With the edges of the toweling disposed between the inner edge guide bosses 124 and 128, and the outer edge guide bosses 126 and 130, the end of the toweling is wrapped around the mandrel arm 58 from the front and over the top thereof, at least one and one-half times. The breaker handle 140 is pulled to the front until the latch 158 engages the latch pin 152, at which time the motor becomes. energized and rotates the mandrel. The mandrel is rotated at high speed initially, until the roll of toweling reaches the size at which the follower 28 operates the speed selector switch 86 to change to low speed. Winding then is completed at low speed. If it be desired to wind the toweling intermittently, the inching switch 174 is manually operated. Otherwise, a fifty-yard roll is wound completely in a matter of seconds.

The sinuous breaker plates 92 and 94 provide a tortuou path for travel of the toweling therebetween, to maintain the toweling under tension as it is being wound. The convex edge 134 on the guide bar 132 increases the tension on the center of the toweling and centers the toweling in cooperation with the edge guide bosses 124, 126, 128 and 130. This construction maintains the edges straight and even with minimum selvedge folds, to produce a smooth, even, and tightly wound roll.

When the toweling is fully wound, the latch 158 is operated to release the movable breaker 24, which swings back to its open position. This movement opens the startstop switch 172, to de-energize the motor and stop rotation of the mandrel. After taping the loose end of the toweling to the roll, the stripper 190 is operated by the valve lever 212, to cause the disk 210 to engage the inner end of the roll and push the roll towards the free end 66 of the mandrel. Inasmuch as the roll is tightly wound on the mandrel, it may be difficult to remove manually. The tapering construction of the mandrel and the application of force by the stripper cooperate to remove the roll easily and rapidly, while minimizing work motion.

The tension exerted by the breakers 22 and 24 can be adjusted to suit particular needs. Breaker tension is increased for tightly wound toweling or when the processing produces extremely dry toweling. Breaker tension is decreased to reduce the tightness of winding, when the toweling is somewhat damp, or when a no-ironer or flulidry process is used. The tension is adjusted by moving the hinge blocks 108 and 110, and the latch plate 144, to ad just the breaker spacing while maintaining the parallelism of the breaker plates 92 and 94.

The winding machine is simple and easy to operate. The side loading tensioning apparatus eliminates threading. Work motion is also simplified by the overhung mandrel, construction. The stripper assembly cooperates with the mandrel to remove the roll easily and rapidly,

eliminating the need for mandrel removal and minimizing handling of the roll. The machine produces tight rolls of dry, slightly damp, or fluif-dried toweling with a. minimum of friction and wear on the toweling.

The maintenance requirements of the machine are low, inasmuch as there are relatively few moving parts, and the mandrel is the only moving part engaging the toweling. Various prior clutch, brake, guard, and roll components are eliminated. No critical shaft alignment is required. The machine is readily mounted in any desired location on a simple portable stand or on a wall, post, or column.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that such'changes and modifications be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1.In a towel winding machine, a mandrel rotatable about its axis for winding toweling in a roll thereon, drive means for rotating said mandrel, and tensioning means in advance of said mandrel for tensioning toweling being wound on the mandrel, said tensioning means comprising a pair of spaced apart towel breakers having adjacent supported ends and free ends, means for supporting said breakers for hinged movement relative to each other at said supported ends, means for adjusting said supporting means for varying the spacingof said breakers and the resulting tension on the toweling, and releasable means for holding said free ends together, whereby toweling may be inserted between said breakers at said free ends for windmg.

2. In a towel winding machine, a mandrel rotatable about its axis for winding toweling in a roll thereon, drive means for rotating said mandrel, and tensioning means in advance of said mandrel for tensioning toweling being wound on the mandrel, said tensioning means comprising a pair of towel breakers having adjacent supported ends and free ends, said breakers including spaced apart complementary sinuous plates providing a tortuous path for towel movement therebetween, marginal towel guides on said plates, and an inwardly convex towel guide centrally mounted on one of said plates for increasing the tension on the center of the toweling, means for supporting said breakers for hinged movement relative to each other at said supported ends, and releasable means for holding said free ends together, whereby toweling may be inserted between said breakers at said free ends for winding.

3. In a towel winding machine, a support, a mandrel on said support and rotatable about its axis for winding toweling in a roll thereon, drive means on said support for rotating said mandrel, and tensioning means on said support in advance of said mandrel for tensioning toweling being wound on the mandrel, said mandrel having a supported end mounted on said support and a free end projecting outwardly therefrom, said tensioning means similarly having a supported end mounted on said support and a free end projecting outwardly therefrom, said tensioning means comprising a pair of spaced apart towel breakers having adjacent supported ends and free ends, means for supporting said breakers for hinged movement relative to each other at their supported ends, and releasable means for holding the breaker free ends together, whereby toweling may be inserted between said breakers at their free ends for winding, and a roll wound on said mandrel may be removed in the axial direction at the mandrel free end without removing the mandrel.

4. A towel winding machine as defined in claim 3 and including a stripper adjacent said mandrel supported end and movable to engage a roll on the mandrel and move the roll in the direction of said mandrel free end.

5. In a towel winding machine, a mandrel rotatable about its axis for winding toweling in a roll thereon, electrically operated drive means for rotating said mandrel, tensioning means .in advance of said mandrel for tensioning toweling being wound on the mandrei, said tensioning means comprising a pair of spaced apart towel breakers having adjacent supported ends and free ends, means for supporting said breakers for hinged movement relative to each other at said supported ends, releasable 'means for holding said free ends together, whereby toweling may be inserted between said breakers at said free ends for wind ing, switch means actuatable by said breakers to de-energize said drive means when said free ends are moved apart, and manual switch means for de-energizing said drive means when said free ends are together.

6. A towel winding machine as defined in claim 5 wherein said drive means is operable at different speeds, and including switch means for changing the drive speed, and a roll follower adjacent said mandrel and operatively associated with the latter switch means for regulating the rotational speed of the mandrel according to the size of the roll thereon.

7. In a towel winding machine, a mandrel rotatable about its axis for winding toweling in a roll thereon, said mandrel having a supported end and a free end and also having a square cross section tapering from adjacent its supported end to its free end, drive means for rotating said. mandrel, tensioning means in advance of said mandrel for tensioning toweling being Wound on the mandrel, a stripper adjacent said mandrel supported end and engageable with the corresponding end of a roll wound on the mandrel, and means for moving said stripper to engage said roll end and move the roll in the direction of its axis towards said mandrel free end for removing the roll from the mandrel at said free end.

8. In a towel winding machine, a mandrel rotatable about its axis for winding toweling in a roll thereon, said mandrel having a supported end and a free end, whereby a roll Wound on said mandrel may be removed in the axial direction at said free end Without removing the mandrel, electrically operated drive means operable at different speeds, means coupling said drive means with said mandrel for rotating the mandrel correspondingly at different speeds, switch means for changing the drive speed, a roll follower adjacent said mandrel and operatively associated with said switch means for regulating the rotational speed of the mandrel according to the size of the roll thereon, and tensioning means in advance of said mandrel for tensioning toweling being wound on the mandrel.

9, In a towel winding machine, a support, a mandrel on said support and rotatable about its axis for Winding toweling in a roll thereon, said mandrel having a supported end mounted on said support and a free end projecting outwardly therefrom and also having a square cross section tapering from adjacent its supported end to its free end, drive means on said support for rotating said mandrel, tensioning means on said support in advance at said mandrel for tensioning toweling being wound on the mandrel, said tensioning means similarly having a supported end mounted on said support and a free end projecting outwardly therefrom, whereby toweling may be loaded on the machine for winding at said free ends, a stripper on said support adjacent said mandrel supported end and engageable with the corresponding end of a roll wound on the mandrel, and means for moving said stripper to engage said roll end and move the roll in the direction of its axis towards said mandrel free end for removing the roll from the mandrel at said free end.

iii. In a towel winding machine, a mandrel rotatable about its axis for winding toweling in a roll thereon, drive means for rotating said mandrel, and tensioning means in advance of said mandrel for tensioning toweling being wound on the mandrel, said tensioning means comprising a pair of towel breakers having adjacent supported ends and free ends, said breakers including spaced apart complementary sinuous plates providing a tortuous path for towel movement therebetween, means for supporting said breakers for hinged movement relative to each other at said supported ends including a hinge mounting one of said plates, means adjustably mounting said hinge for varying the spacing of the plates and the resulting tension on the toweling, means biasing said one plate to separate said free ends, and releasable means for holding said free ends together, whereby toweling may be inserted between said breakers at said free ends for winding.

11. In a towel winding machine, a mandrel rotatable about its axis for Winding toweling in a roll thereon, drive means for rotating said mandrel, and tensioning means in advance of said mandrel for tensioning toweling being Wound on the mandrel, said tensioning means comprising a pair of towel breakers including spaced apart complementary sinuous plates providing a tortuous path for towel movement therebetween, marginal towel guides on said plates, and an inwardly convex towel guide centrally mounted on one of said plates for increasing the tension on the center of the toweling.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,078,448 11/1913 Marcroft 242-l53 2,922,593 1/1960 Greenberger 242-72.1 3,097,806 7/1963 Darman 24257 MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner, 

1. IN A TOWEL WINDING MACHINE, A MANDREL ROTATABLE ABOUT ITS AXIS FOR WINDING TOWELLING IN A ROLL THEREON, DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING SAID MANDREL, AND TENSIONING MEANS IN ADVANCE OF SAID MANDREL FOR TENSIONING TOWELING BEING WOUND ON THE MANDREL, SAID TENSIONING MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED APART TOWEL BREAKERS HAVING ADJACENT SUPPORTED ENDS AND FREE ENDS, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID BREAKERS FOR HINGED MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER AT SAID SUPPORTED ENDS, MEANS FOR ADJUSTING SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR VARYING THE SPACING OF SAID BREAKERS AND THE RESULTING TENSION ON THE TOWELING, AND RELEASABLE MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID FREE ENDS TOGETHER, WHEREBY TOWELING MAY BE INSERTED BETWEEN SAID BREAKERS AT SAID FREE ENDS FOR WINDING. 